Is India ready for a hot mobile figure, curvy screen?

Smartphone Manufacturer 1- What should we do for our products to be unique, to be something new and rare and something that will bring revolution.

Smartphone Manufacturer 2- Big screen, done. Waterproof, done. Superfast processors, done. Hmmmmm…..let’s bend some rules, let’s bend the screen.

Smartphone Manufacturer 1- Say what!

This is how I think the fire started, the revolution of curved displays. Yes, we are talking about bendable screens in our smartphones. But what use will it be to us?

Let’s first understand the tech behind this new technology.
“A flexible OLED is based on a flexible substrate which can be either plastic, metal or flexible glass. The plastic and metal panels will be light, thin and very durable - in fact they will be virtually shatter-proof as compared to glass-paneled non-flexible OLEDs.”

Samsung Galaxy Round

The first range of devices to use a flexible display won't be flexible at all. While the manufacturer may bend the display or curve it around a non-flat surface, the final user will not be able to actually bend the device. Still it will have several advantages: these displays will be lighter, thinner and much more durable compared to glass based displays. E.g- LG G FLEX, Samsung Galaxy ROUND etc. Second generation flexible OLED devices may indeed be flexible to the final user. Finally, when the technology is ready, we may see OLED panels that the user can fold, bend or stretch. This may create all sorts of exciting designs that will enable large displays to be placed in a mobile device and only be opened when required.

Bendable Display

Now i will not dig deeper into hows, whens and whats about the technology. But rather i have a question in my mind- Will curved displays be a game changer for the audience? The major driving force about this new technology can be stated as FASCINATION. People will be mesmerized reading about it, using it at the Jumbo electronics but will they buy it? Will they replace their old smartphones with something that will be a slight bulge in their pockets? And if so, then for what?

Agreed that there are several advantages of curved displays over flat ones like weight, strength, reflection issue, different gaming experience, etc… but what is that one USP that will speak for the product? Is it the display itself or something new? A lot of questions unanswered. But I think I have the answers to a few of them. First of all, No, rigid curved displays are not the technology that will replace my Galaxy Note. Secondly, yes I am fascinated by it but I will definitely not invest in it because the price of smartphones goes southwards, DAILY. And lastly, it’s a new idea so a less techy guy would be afraid of using it because “Engine toh “MARUTI” ka hi number one hai.”


                                                   Future of Bendable display 

The future indeed gleams bright for 'Bendable displays'. It wouldn't be surprising to see Apple, Samsung...trying to enter this foray with innovative devices. But as they say, "Time will tell". Until then let us wait for the 'Era of Iron Man' to unfold.